Benoit signing official; Portillo DFA'd

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit celebrates the final out against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. Detroit won 4-2. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

/ AP

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit celebrates the final out against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. Detroit won 4-2. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit celebrates the final out against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. Detroit won 4-2. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (/ AP)

The team confirmed signing the veteran right-hander to a two-year deal with a vesting option for 2016. To make room for Benoit, right-hander Adys Portillo was designated for assignment.

The deal was previously reported to be worth $15.5 million -- $6 million in 2014, $8 million in 2015 with at least $1.5 million owed to Benoit in a buyout in 2016. The vesting details are not yet known.

“Joaquin has proven to be one of the top late-game relievers in baseball,” Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said in a release “We are excited to add him to our staff.”

Benoit, 36, went 4-1 with 24 saves in 26 chances last year with the Tigers, posting a 2.01 ERA, 73 strikeouts and 22 walks over 67 innings. Opposing hitters hit .197 against him in 2013.

With the Padres, Benoit figures to serve as a set-up man to closer Huston Street.

“The Padres are a team that’s going up,” Benoit said in the release. “This is a (club) that’s looking to go to the playoffs and that’s what it’s all about. The bullpen has a lot of good arms and for me to join that (group), it was an easy decision.”

The 22-year-old Portillo went 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA and 10 strikeouts against four walks over three starts last year at low Single-A Fort Wayne. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2008, Portillo has compiled a 4.86 ERA, 321 strikeouts and 198 walks over 335 innings over parts of five minor league seasons with the Padres.